AN emergency scenario is set to be staged in Rossendale later this month to test how the authority deals with a major incident.

Last year a fake lorry crash was staged on Burnley Road, Bacup, using local actors to help make the incident convincing.

Measures already in place include designated emergency planning officers, staff able to be called in to control a major incident room, rest centre provision, local hotels willing to accommodate evacuated people and well-trained emergency services and voluntary organisations.

Rossendale Borough Council emergency planning coordinator Lesley Cropper said: "The emergency plan now in place will ensure that in the event of a major incident occurring in Rossendale, the council full prepared to deal with any incident."